World Footy News

G'day, I help run a local Auskick group on the Mornington Peninsular, south of Melbourne, and thought I'd give an update on our season so far.

Out season has kicked off and registration day saw 95 kids sign up, 50 more than last year, it was a great day and the two girls that run our clinic did a fantastic job and were very surprised at the turn out. We have a few more girls this year which is great to see, 40 preps (first year of school), 20 grade 1's, 15 grade 2's and 15 grade 3's - that's 5 groups we have to make up, with one coach and 2 coordinators, so we are going to need plenty of helpers.

Week 2 saw our first training run, we had to get there early to set up, put up the goal posts, get all the balls together in separate bags, prime the whistles etc.

The oval is abuzz with kids and parents, time to blow the whistle and get all the kids together and divide them into groups, crack a few jokes, try a few tricks and make the kids feel at home, it's all about fun. Plenty of helpers which is great and they are all dads and they are keen as mustard to help out, which is what we need, without the helpers it just would not happen.

But you have to get the parents involved, just like making the kids feel welcome, the same applies to the helpers, don't just let them stand there and watch, you have to approach them and encourage them to help out and if you introduce yourself to as many helpers as possible they will get involved, get them to help out in their own kid's group.

The first session was a great success and the kids loved it we just start off with the basic skill drills like rolling the ball so the kids can pick it up and hand ball it back to the helper, hold the ball in the air and get them to run and jump at it and run past a handball target to have a go, or set up some goals so they can kick a goal (everyone loves to kick a goal), teach them how to clench their fists, teach them how to hold a footy, teach them to respect their team mates, and teach them to stop at the sound of a whistle. What would you do without the whistle - a very important tool for the coach and the helpers.

After 45 mins of different skill drills its time to have a game.

Week 3 saw another great turnout, I thought we would lose a few but they all came out, even if the weather did look a little threatening. Again another great turnout of helpers and a few more faces that came along to watch so I approached them to introduce myself and try to get them involved, just watch this week we say and then don't hesitate to jump in and get involved.

There is not much I can do except roam around the 5 groups, pick out a few kids here and there and try a few drills on them, and show the helpers a few drills that they can implement as well.

Already we have had our first Grid game at the Telstra Dome or Docklands and what a great day it was, Auskick and the AFL do a great job and the kids were super excited we had 11 kids from preps to grade 3 play a game, 6 a side, I had to put on the umpires shirt and we had another 4 helpers, 2 to do the goal umpiring, 1 to do the signage, and our own media rep to take a video for us, we were even lucky enough to singled out by the TV station and they showed our kids having a red hot go.

One thing you have to make sure of with Auskick is NO TACKLING and NO DIVING ON THE BALL and give the kids plenty of room to kick the ball, encourage them to give of plenty of handballs, and above all make sure every kid gets a kick, so you have to pluck free kicks out of thin air to even it up. And funny thing is the game was a DRAW like most Auskick games are and should be, as I say to the kids, it's not whether you win or lose it's how you play the game (I know it's an oldie but it's a goodie).

So don't underestimate the power of Auskick, they love to learn and learn they do. Kids just wanna have fun.